Nail salons don't run like hair salons. Many get half their business from walk-ins, techs work on turns, and the front desk juggles a waiting list while booked clients arrive. Most general salon software is built for appointments only, so nail owners end up with a paper turn list next to an expensive booking app.
This guide covers what nail salon software needs to do, compares the main options with real prices, and helps you pick based on how your salon actually runs.
What nail salon software needs to do
Track turns fairly
The turn tracker is the heart of a walk-in nail salon. It decides who gets the next walk-in, counts a pedicure as a full turn and a polish change as a half turn, and skips techs who are busy with appointments. A good one shows the turn order on a screen everyone can see, which ends most arguments before they start. (More in our guide to nail salon turn trackers.)
Manage the walk-in queue
When walk-ins pile up on a Saturday, you need a list of who's waiting, what they want and how long they've waited. QR check-in lets clients scan a code at the door and add themselves, so the front desk isn't writing names on a clipboard. (See how a nail salon check-in system cuts wait times.)
Mix walk-ins with appointments
Booked clients and walk-ins share the same techs. The software should know a tech has a 2 pm appointment and skip them for a long walk-in pedicure at 1:30.
Track commissions and tips
Most nail techs are paid a percentage of their services plus tips. The software should calculate each tech's commission at checkout and record card and cash tips separately, so payday doesn't mean an evening with a calculator.
Send text reminders
For booked clients, text reminders cut no-shows. Check whether texts are included or charged per message.
Simple pricing, no surprise hardware
Some nail systems require their own terminal and lock you into their card processing at rates they don't publish. Cloud software that runs on a tablet or phone you already own is usually cheaper to start and easier to leave.
Nail salon software compared
Prices are monthly, for a salon with 4 techs, from each company's published pricing.
| Software | Turn tracker | Walk-in check-in | Commissions | Text reminders | 4 techs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SupaDay Grow | Yes | QR code | Yes | 500/month included | $56/mo |
| Fastboy | Yes (Go Check In) | Yes | Not confirmed | Separate | $129/mo (3 modules) |
| Zota Elite | Yes (Elite only) | Kiosk tablet | Yes | Included | $199/mo + hardware |
| Nails 123 | Yes | Kiosk | Not confirmed | Separate service | ~$799 license + hardware |
| Vagaro | Add-on | No | Add-on | Paid add-on | ~$60/mo + add-ons |
| Fresha | No | No | Yes | 20/month, then paid | Per tech + 20% new-client fee |
| Square Appointments | No | No | Premium ($149) | Plus ($49) and up | $49–$149/mo |
SupaDay: turn tracker and walk-ins at a capped price
SupaDay was built with nail salons in mind. The Grow plan includes a fair turn tracker with half and full turns, QR walk-in check-in, online booking, commission tracking, checkout with tip splitting, and 500 text reminders a month. It runs on a tablet or phone you already have, with no hardware to buy.
Best for: walk-in-heavy salons of any size that want turns, walk-ins and booking in one place. Watch out for: no built-in loyalty points or gift cards yet.
Fastboy: nail-focused modules plus marketing
Fastboy sells separate modules for nail salons: Go Check In for the walk-in queue ($59), Go POS ($50) and Go Booking ($20), plus optional marketing services like SEO and social media.
Best for: salons that also want a company to handle their marketing. Watch out for: the core software alone is $129 a month, and marketing services add $49 to $349 more.
Zota: hardware bundle, turn tracker on the top plan
Zota bundles a POS terminal, check-in tablet and payment processing for nail salons. Its plans run from Free to Elite at $199 a month, and the turn tracker is only on Elite.
Best for: salons that want a dedicated hardware setup from one vendor. Watch out for: the turn tracker costs $199 a month, hardware is quoted separately, and card processing rates aren't published.
Nails 123 (ATSoft): installed at the salon
Nails 123 is long-standing nail salon software installed on a touchscreen at your front desk, with a turn tracker, a sign-in kiosk and loyalty points.
Best for: salons that prefer software installed on-site and already own the hardware. Watch out for: it isn't cloud-based, so you can't check it from home. The license is about $799, with hardware, texting and support quoted separately.
Vagaro: strong booking, walk-ins as extras
Vagaro is a popular all-purpose salon platform with a consumer booking marketplace. Online booking is strong, but turn tracking and commissions are add-ons.
Best for: appointment-heavy nail salons that want marketplace exposure. Watch out for: add-ons for walk-ins, commissions and texts push the price up.
Fresha: low entry price, fee on new clients
Fresha charges per tech and takes a 20% fee on a new client's first booking when it comes through the Fresha marketplace.
Best for: appointment-only salons that want marketplace bookings. Watch out for: no turn tracker or walk-in queue, and only 20 free texts a month.
Square Appointments: if you already use Square
Square's free plan covers basic booking and payments. Text reminders need Plus at $49, and commissions need Premium at $149. (We reviewed it in detail in is Square Appointments good for salons.)
Best for: small appointment-based nail salons already using Square. Watch out for: no turn tracker or walk-in queue on any plan.
How to choose
- Mostly walk-ins: you need a real turn tracker and a walk-in queue. Shortlist SupaDay, Fastboy, Zota Elite or Nails 123, then compare price and whether you want cloud software or hardware at the desk.
- Mix of walk-ins and appointments: pick a tool that handles both in one place, so the turn list knows about booked clients.
- Mostly appointments: Vagaro, Fresha and Square are strong on online booking. Check what reminders and commissions cost.
- You want marketing done for you: Fastboy bundles software with marketing services.
- Tight budget, small team: compare the price for your actual number of techs, including hardware and add-ons, not just the advertised starting price.
Before switching, run a busy Saturday on a free trial. Turn trackers look similar in a demo, but the difference shows up when six walk-ins arrive at once.
The bottom line
The best nail salon software is the one built for how nail salons actually work: walk-ins, turns and booked clients all at once. If walk-ins are a big part of your business, choose a tool with a fair turn tracker and a walk-in queue, and check the full price, including hardware and add-ons. SupaDay covers turns, walk-ins, booking, commissions and reminders for a 4-tech salon at $56 a month. See how SupaDay works for nail salons →
